• A Formula 1 racer broke a Ferrari mechanic’s leg when he ran over him during the Bahrain GP.
  • The Ferrari mechanic was taken to hospital for treatment after the incident.
  • Ferrari was fined €50,000 ($61,500) because of an unsafe release.

An experienced Formula 1 driver ran over a mechanic and broke his leg during the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

The incident occured when Kimi Räikkönen made a routine pit-stop after 35 of 57 laps. The Ferrari driver stopped for a tyre change, waited for the green light, and then sped off to rejoin the race.

However, Räikkönen was given the green light before the left rear tyre had even been changed – and Ferrari mechanic Francesco Cigorini was still tending to the wheel.

In the image below, you can see the position Cigorini's leg was in (circled) when Räikkönen drove off.

Kimi Raikkonen

Foto: Francesco Cigorini suffered a double leg break. source Sky Sports screenshot

Räikkönen ran over Cigorini, who immediately collapsed to the floor in pain. Cigorini suffered a fracture of the tibia and fibula in his left leg and was taken to hospital for treatment.

"What happened to our guy Francesco today at the pit-stop is very unfortunate," Räikkönen, who retired after the incident, said in an official statement on Ferrari's F1 website. "I feel sorry for him and hope he's going to be okay soon. It's always a bad thing when someone gets injured but I am sure he has the best people taking good care of him and I wish him a speedy recovery.

"As for the accident itself, all I know is that I moved when I saw the green light go on. I couldn't have possibly realised that there was an issue with the rear left wheel, then I saw someone had got hurt, and immediately, I was told to spot by the team. Unfortunately something must have gone wrong and we'll need to find out what."

Ferrari has been fined €50,000 ($61,500) by race officials for an unsafe release, according to the BBC.